King Charles celebrated his 78th birthday with a special appearance on Sir Elton John's Rocket Hour radio show, where the two joked about the challenges of ageing and shared musical memories. The programme, recorded last month at Apple Music Studios in south London, premiered on Saturday morning and also marked the 50th anniversary of the King's Trust.
A Royal Playlist
During the show, the pair selected 14 songs together, each with personal significance. The King chose Sir Elton's own 'I'm Still Standing' as one of his favourites, citing its 'message of resilience'. Sir Elton quipped, 'I'm still sitting now, though,' prompting the King to chuckle, 'With occasional bits dropping off here and there. I know this is a terrible problem as we get older.'
The King also recalled Sir Elton's 1986 performance at Wembley Arena for the charity's 10th anniversary, saying, 'I suspect that no-one who was present on that night in 1986 could possibly forget your performance of I'm Still Standing. I know people in all kinds of circumstances find this song inspiring, not only for its marvellous spirit, but also its message of resilience. And certainly, 40 years on from that remarkable concert, we and the Trust are definitely still standing.'
Meaningful Selections
Among the tracks chosen were Calvin Harris and Rag'n'Bone Man's 'Giant', which the King said summed up his charity's message of finding strength from others. Other picks included Bob Dylan's 'Gotta Serve Somebody', Muse's 'Feeling Good', and Nectar Woode's 'Wine into Water', which features Sir Elton on piano.
When asked to highlight a song he found 'extremely meaningful', the King replied that there is 'nothing more meaningful than love' and described Sir Paul McCartney's 2002 performance of The Beatles' 'All You Need Is Love' at the Party at the Palace concert for Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee. 'I shall never forget the magic of witnessing a simply unforgettable performance,' he said. 'It really is a totally timeless song with a timeless message.'
Remembering Tina Turner
The show opened with Tina Turner's 'Proud Mary'. The King described the late singer as an 'electrifying character' and recalled that the guard at Buckingham Palace played her hit 'Simply the Best' following her death in 2023. 'It was, I hope, a small way of thanking her for the times she has performed for my charities and indeed for the joy she brought to millions of people,' he said.
Other selections included Sir Rod Stewart's 'Handbags and Gladrags', Elvis Presley's 'Hound Dog', Pete Townshend's 'Let My Love Open the Door' and Raye's 'Joy'.
The programme will be rebroadcast on Apple Music One at 17:00 and 22:00 on Saturday and again on Sunday at 02:00 and 06:00. It will also feature on Apple Music Hits on Sunday at 10:00 and 14:00.
